salt + pepper chocolate sandwich cookies with strawberry jam

During these bitterly cold and blustery winter days, I like to indulge. Spring is still a watercoloured, half-remembered dream. It's so easy and softly tempting to toss wrinkled thoughts of strappy sandals and swimsuits on the shelf and simply listen to the windswept siren's call of indulgence. My happy undoing usually comes in the form of a creamy soup, an all-butter encrusted pie, a ridiculously-rich layer cake, cured roasted meats, salty-sweet brownies, and cookies. Always cookies...my true North in stormy weather.

Soft Sugar Cookies

Sometimes you just want to sink your teeth into a soft, crumbly, sweet sugar cookie. The kind of cookie that breaks apart in your hand as soon as you take a bite. The kind of cookie which, no matter how hard you try, throws all your attempts of remaining sophisticated and poised out the window...way out.

Because as soon as you dust the crumbs off your lap, and dab away the milk mustache with a napkin, your other hand is already absently reaching for another cookie.

Cookies have a way of leveling the playing field and returning us to the carefree, nonchalance of childhood.

Red Velvet Brownies

My views on fate and destiny are somewhat skewed, in that I tend to believe in them only when it's convenient to do so. But, when I can muzzle the logical half of my brain (not an easy task), part of me likes to believe in fairy tales, happily ever afters, and soul-mates. These brief lapses in reason may not last long, but they visit just often enough allow for wishing on stars, stray eyelashes, and birthday candles. :)

Sprinkles Strawberry Cupcakes

When I was little, and between bouts of frustration over the realization that one could not actually bake in an Easy Bake oven ( despite several failed attempts ), I used to have imaginary parties with my Strawberry Shortcake dolls. Occasionally She-Ra would join in, but only if that fickle Blueberry Muffin was off somewhere riding My Little Pony. They were not what I would call 'Tea' parties, because A: I was a tomboy girly girl, and B: I never was crazy about tea. Preferably I would have loved to call them soda parties, but since soda was taboo in the green-stuff stuffed fridge, I settled for...wait for it, H20. It was a sad excuse for a party, I was hoping my parents would realize this, break down, and by me a bottle of root beer and a box of Ho Hos. But they sat around the mini table and pretended to enjoy their water and non-existent cake. Cold, cold hearted they were. :-p

Pamplemousse Punitions

Translated, these cookies are called Grapefruit Punishments.

Dorie Greenspan's svelte little book, Paris Sweets, has remained so polite all these years. It waits patiently among countless other cook books, and every time I go hunting for a recipe, I see it - poised and demure. Yet because it's such a posh little thing, I feel as though it should only be pulled out for special occasions - not when I look like a mad scientist digging through books in my Harry Potter glasses, over sized sweater, and mismatched leg warmers pulled over even further mismatched leggings And yes, yes I do have leg warmers. (They also double as arm/hand warmers when I'm on the computer.)

In my never-ending, idiosyncratic quest for perfection, I finally decided that this book could hold the key, at least as far as baking is concerned. Paris Sweets is the sophisticated cousin of Dorie's beloved book, Baking, From My Home to Yours. The recipes were inspired by the desserts from the fabulous patisseries of Paris. But don't let that intimidate you, the recipes are made with basic ingredients and Dorie explains how to do everything in such a way that you'll want to hop on a plane and apply for a spot as a pastry chef in Paris - which aside from acting in a Shakespearean play with Jamie Bamber, would be my dream job...did I mention idiosyncrasy?

S'mores Cupcakes

For months I've been having dreams about making these babies. It got to the point where I finally had to get up at 5am and just make a batch already.

Vanilla Bean Cake Bars

The bars that went into the oven and came out as a cake. Despite my love of dark chocolate, peanut butter, and lemons (no particular order there), every now and then I get vanilla cravings. Vanilla has such a pure, laid-back simplicity to it, that I find it a refreshing change from all the fussy, high-maintenance holiday desserts. The softness and ease of this vanilla cake felt like slipping on a favourite pair of blue jeans...if they can slip on after those holiday desserts.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

When someone asks me if I'll make something for them to bring to a party, it's like asking a fish if it would like to go for a swim. Really, you don't have to be nervous about asking. The only string I attach is some time and space for picture taking (without the eye rolling/complaining/looking over my shoulder to see if I'm done.) I think that's a fair deal. Plus it gives me an excuse to make things that I may not have wanted to reattempt after a series of let-downs...such as these cupcakes.